History of Indonesia's War Independence in Novel Larasati by Pramoedya Ananta Toer: New Historicism Approach Andri Wicaksono, Emzir, and Zainal Rafli Department of Language Education, Universitas Negeri Jakarta, DKI Jakarta, Indonesia Keywords: Historical Reality, War of Independence, New Historicism Abstract: The historical reality in Indonesian novels with a New Historicism perspective focuses on history and literary issues. The Indonesian novel, Larasati, by PramoedyaAnantaToer represents the historical events of the Indonesian struggle (period 1945-1949) in different colors with historical texts in general. Therefore, this study aims to describe in depth the objective-imaginative reality of the nation's struggle in the novel The research method used was qualitative interpretive with a parallel reading between literary texts on events that represent the history of the nation's struggle. The results show, in general, that historical reality during the war for independence, namely the struggle to continue to uphold the independence. The novel illustrates the situation of the Indonesian revolutionary upheaval after an uncertain proclamation due to the absence of stability of power. On the one hand, de jure Indonesia is an independent nation, but on the other side Dutch power still persists. Finally, the results of this study may have implications on the growing sense of nationalism as a manifestation of the strengthening of the nation's character through creating prime qualified human resources. 1 INTRODUCTION and reflection of literary thoughts on the reality of life faced in the past. The connection between the As one of the products of literature, novels play an development of the literary world and social change important role in giving a view to addressing life in in society is made possible by the function and an imaginative artistic manner. This is possible position of literature as part of the system of cultural because the issue discussed in the novel is a matter arts. The development of literature in various forms of man and humanity. Novel developments in including historical novels is a way for writers to Indonesia quite rapidly, as evidenced by the many express and express ideas in a novel work that still new novels published. The novels have a variety of retains elements of history as an important part of themes and content, among other social problems, novel substance. which generally occurs in the community, including Compared to historians, writers actually have those associated feelings and psyche. This is very more free space when they want to convey a interesting to talk about because the soul is the reflection of their evaluations of past history. As the essence of life of animate creature. Mahayana (2005) said, subjectively, writers can Novel as a form of literary work is expected to interpret and construe the facts or events of bring positive values to the audience so that they are historical importance. It can also deliver other sensitive to problems related to social life and alternatives behind historical events.So, writers can encourage good behavior. Novels are also make historical facts and events as the background expressions of social phenomena in aspects of life of their creative work. However, they can also use that can be used as a means of knowing humans and historical facts and events to convey critical notes or their times. The novel that is increasingly shining in to reveal events that might have escaped historical the present is nothing but a continuous story about records.However, as a creative work these parallels humans that is polished in such a way by creative are not as 'plagiarized' of historical reality. Literary writers. works choose material contained in society This understanding implies the bargaining (including historical reality), process it in position of literary works as a form of expression combination with the author's imagination so that the 32 Wicaksono, A., Emzir, . and Rafli, Z. History of Indonesia’s War Independence in Novel Larasati by Pramoedya Ananta Toer: New Historicism Approach. DOI: 10.5220/0008993400320040 In Proceedings of the International Conference on Education, Language and Society (ICELS 2019), pages 32-40 ISBN: 978-989-758-405-3 Copyright c 2020 by SCITEPRESS – Science and Technology Publications, Lda. All rights reserved History of Indonesia’s War Independence in Novel Larasati by Pramoedya Ananta Toer: New Historicism Approach reality in the novel with reality in Indonesian history not always in line with the willingness. For this is not exactly the same. reason, this study is in-depth to bridge the historical When literary works can be used as historical findings contained in the literary text. references, literature has proven itself to be a science These problems will be analyzed using the New that not only speaks of creativity and a series of Historicism approach by Greenblatt. In his study, imaginations, but can also function as a historical both theoretically and in practice, Greenblatt (in document. So those, the humanities can eventually Brannigan, 1998) focused on the issue of history and penetrate the confines of a binding nature as a literature.The disciplinary expansion which includes science. the study of textuality, language and representation Literary works of historical value are usually is basically based on historical analysis; the effect of taken from history. Likewise with the use of literary criticism on history, namely by reading language, between historical writings and literary history as a text. works are different. History is more likely to use The historical reality in Indonesian novels with a referential symbolism by pointing explicitly at New Historicism perspective is theoretical studies objects, thoughts, events, and relationships. While and practices that focus on historical and literary literature has more subjective messages from the issues. author (Kuntowijoyo, 2006). Historical literary The expansion includes the study disciplinary works are historiography. textuality, language, and representation are basically The relationship between literary work and the based on a historical analysis; the effect of the reality that occurs in society shows that to history of literary criticism, by reading history as a understand literary works, studies are needed that text.In this case, the historical reality relating to past involve the relationship between literary works and events is not only found in historical texts, but also social aspects.By understanding literary works in in literary works, for example Indonesian novels set relation to the national struggle, it is not impossible against the war of independence from 1945 to for a literary reader to rediscover the reality or 1949.The novels which are characterized by the historical representation depicted in literary works.In background during the independence war are one of this case, history, especially relating to past events, the works of Pramoedya Ananta Toer. Pramoedya is not only found in historical texts, but also in Ananta Toer's novel which is the focus of this literary works, such as novels.Based on a research is Larasati (2003).The novel allegedly preliminary reading of a number of modern represents the historical events of the Indonesian Indonesian novels, can be found a number of novels struggle (the period 1945-1949) in different colors depicting the events of history of national struggle with historical texts in general. during the war of independence (1945 - 1949) that In accordance with the elaboration on the have occurred in Indonesia.The background problems in literary (novels) with history, in this selection here is determined to facilitate the paper it is pursued on the issue of historical reality in collection of existing historical literature; literature a novel set in the war of independence.In more detail as a historical document. the purpose of this study is to describe in depth the In Taum's research (2013), material objects used history of the nation's struggle (objective- are also literary texts and non-literary texts, namely imaginative reality) found in the novel Larasati by texts narrating the years 1966-1998 which are PramoedyaAnantaToer. examined according to historical blocks. In accordance with the approach model used, these texts are seen as discursive formations produced 2 THEORITICAL REVIEW based on an episteme which is a grammar of knowledge production. Previous studies of the War of Independence 2.1 Historical Value in Literary (Wicaksono, 2018a; 2018b) showed that during the The process of the values of human life is realized, revolutionary period, Indonesian literature, identified, and absorbed into a more conscious especially novels, was concerned with various possession and then developed. But, values can help representations of the War of Independence. Among us realize, acknowledge, deepen, and understand the the various means of representation / such as history nature of the relationship between values and their textbooks, monuments, museums, and the media roles and uses for life. According to generally dominated and voicing the interests of the Koentjaraningrat (2009), there are similarities in ruler (state), literature has the attitude and views are science and knowledge about values, namely value 33 ICELS 2019 - International Conference on Education, Language, and Society is something that is considered valuable by humans works of fiction and non-fiction. Events, places, and or groups of humans. A value if lived